In November 2023, Cruise’s CEO disclosed that its driverless robotaxis required remote workers to manage 2–4% of operations during complex scenarios. This highlights a stark reality: AI tools often depend on hidden labor, which includes crowdworkers who label data for systems like ImageNet, essential for training AI. Platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) facilitate this labor, concealing the vast effort behind AI advancements. Data workers face challenging tasks, often dealing with graphic content without adequate support, leading to psychological impacts. The industry norm increasingly exploits low-paid labor, resulting in precarious job conditions. Companies such as Sama subcontract work to marginalized populations, further distancing them from Big Tech’s ethical claims. The rise of “redteamers” emphasizes the mental toll on workers tasked with identifying harmful AI outputs. Stronger job protections and mental health resources are crucial to transform this field into sustainable employment. Advocates urge that laborers be recognized and compensated fairly for their critical role in AI development.
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